After winning 12 of 14 matches a year ago and boasting one of the state's top golfers in Marissa DeCola, the sky could be the limit for the Butler girls golf team in 2011.

The Tornado return almost their entire team, including eight with varsity experience — six being seniors — and a few more on the roster ready to contribute.

“If there's a year we're going to win the WPIAL title, it should be this year,” Butler coach Sarah Zediker said. “We do have so many returners that have experience.”

DeCola will lead the way as she won the Division I Section I title last fall, tied for second place in the PIAA West region and followed up with an eighth-place showing at the PIAA Championships.

Rebecca Shakely, Addy Nanni, Kelsey Schneider, Lauren Weiland and Monica Caparosa are the returning seniors with juniors Tori Hesidence and Ava Bonetti are the squad's key juniors.

Now, the Tornado will be among the WPIAL favorites battling for the title. All the experience will be the biggest reason why.

Following are preview capsules for the 14 Butler County area high school golf teams.

A-C Valley

Coach: Dave Sherman, 10th season

Last season: The Falcons won the KSAC

Home course: Foxburg Country Club

Top returning golfers: Juniors Landon Delisio, Ryan Bartley, Brody Irwin, Jackson Shook and Greg Elliott

Sherman says: “We lost five seniors from last year and are fairly inexperienced aside from our top two (Delisio and Bartley), but we'll be able to compete.”

Butler (boys)

Coach: John Aubrey Jr., second season

Last season: N/A

Home course: Butler Country Club

Top returning golfers: Seniors Corey Morabito, Phil Schultz, Anthony Paterno; sophomores Connor Gray, Jake Campbell, Anthony Baroffio

In the mix: Sophomore Tommy Dimun

Aubrey says: “We lost only two guys last year (David Paterno and Jeremy Gohn) and our No. 1 and No. 2 golfers are returning so we should be pretty solid there. Our expectations are to get out and start working with the kids as much as possible since they've been out by themselves this summer.

Butler (girls)

Coach: Sarah Zediker, sixth season

Last season: 12-2 overall

Home course: Hiland Golf Course

Top returning golfers: Seniors Marissa DeCola, Rebecca Shakely, Addy Nanni, Kelsey Schneider, Lauren Weiland, Monica Caparosa; juniors Tori Hesidence, Ava Bonetti

In the mix: Clarissa Boring; freshmen Emily Seczao, Abby Dumbaugh

Zediker says: “Definitely, overall we are strong with Marissa, Tori and Rebecca and Emily. Marissa is helping working with the team. Everyone is friends with each other and help each other out with the course, shots, club choices.”

Freeport

Coach: Joe Sprumont, second season

Last season: 12-7 overall, 10-4 in section

Home course: Buffalo Golf Course

Top returning golfers: Senior Josh Luchesa; juniors Robbie Miller, Richard Vandruff, Luke Mariotti, Greg Newman, Ryley Cowan, Steve Vento; sophomore Cole Hepler

Sprumont says: “We're very focused. We want to make that next step. We finished third last year in the section. We can't assume because almost everyone's back and other school's lost some seniors, that we'll be better. ... All of those guys saw some varsity time last year, some more than others.”

Grove City

Coach: Pat Forese, 12th season

Last season: 2nd in the region

Home course: Grove City Country Club.

Top returning golfers: Junior Ben Lucas; sophomore Matt Gordon

In the mix: Seniors Bobby Lucas and Pat Rastatter; junior Ed Hetrick

Forese says: “We're looking for improvement throughout the year. It's a rebuilding year.”

Karns City

Coach: Pat Preston, 11th season

Last season: 5-4

Home course: St. Jude Golf Club

Top returning golfers: Seniors Tucker Preston, Tanner Kerschbaumer, Kaden Young and Trevor Beham

In the mix: Sophomores Mike Riley, Bradley Bowser and Ashton McGinnis

Preston says: “We should be very competitive.”

Knoch

Coach: Nick Baltorio, first season

Last season: 11-3 in section; tri-section champions

Home course: Saxon Golf Course

Top returning golfers: Seniors Stefan Carlsson, Jack Boros, Austin Duffy, Josh Hennig; sophomore Chris Kier

In the mix: Senior Josh Sheppeck; junior Bob Jackson

Baltorio says: “I think we have a pretty good group. I think our top-three golfers will break 40 consistently. I want to see how we do in stroke-play competition. I want to instill in the boys that when you have stroke play, every stroke counts. Some players get upset if they have a bad hole, then let it affect them the rest of the round. They all have the desire to play. I want to work on the mental side of it.”

Mars (boys)

Coach: Tim Tyler, 10th season

Last season: Mars went 13-4 overall

Home course: Rittswood Golf Course

Top returning golfers: Sophomores Josh Bartley and Ben Mullins; juniors Alex Locher and Scott Welsh

In the mix: Junior Christian Knapp

Tyler says: “It's a tough section, the top teams are always reloading. We hope to fight for the section title.”

Mars (girls)

Coach: Bill Pettigrew, eighth season

Last season: Mars placed second in its section and made the WPIAL team playoffs

Home course: Rittswood Golf Course

Top returning golfers: Senior Alexa Glew; juniors Olivia Laughlin and Alexa Titchen; sophomore Avery Snyder

In the mix: A host of players

Pettigrew says: “We had our first practice (Aug. 15) and I was really pleased with the results. We want to win the section.”

Moniteau

Coach: Sean Morrow, third season

Last season: N/A

Home course: Shamrock Golf Course

Top returning golfers: Seniors John Cravener, Chris Gibson; juniors Jared Say, Matt Marterella

In the mix: Senior Krista Snyder; juniors Aleisha Fowler, Clarissa Lott; sophomores Ian Manuel, Jackie Baptiste, Aleta Barkley; freshman Marus Fry

Morrow says: “It's a rebuilding year.”

Seneca Valley (boys)

Coach: Steve Mayes, 23rd season

Last season: SV placed second in its section

Home course: Cranberry Highlands Golf Course

Top returning golfers: Junior Blake Miller; seniors Cole Bondo, Charlie Schade

In the mix: Seniors Tyler Gilbert, Gavin Evans; junior Mike Trotta

Mayes says: “We're looking to make the playoffs, that's our goal every year. If we can win 10 matches and get to the playoffs this year, it would be a great season.”

Seneca Valley (girls)

Coach: Lynn Wagner, 12th season

Last season: The Raiders went 10-3 overall and made the WPIAL playoffs

Home course: Connoquenessing Country Club

Top returning golfers: Sophomore Alex Steighner; senior Jaelyn Arrington

Wagner says: “We have a very young team. Two years from now, it could be the best team I've ever had as far as depth.”

Slippery Rock

Coach: Merle Whitmer, 27th year

Last season: Region champion

Home course: Oakview Golf Club

Top returning golfers: Seniors Alex Sparn, Alec Nebel; juniors Brett Rinker, Bob Paczkowski, Levi Leonberg.

In the mix: Senior Dalton Lawniczak; sophomore Matt Badger

Whitmer says: “With (Rinker, who has an injured back) I'm optimistic. I know he's going to be a couple shots around par every match. With a healthy Brett Rinker and the other returning lettermen dropping three strokes each, I think we can win the region again.”

Union

Coach: Ken Corle, first season

Last season: 0-12 overall

Home course: Clarion Oaks

Top returning golfers: Senior Larissa Roberts; junior Derek Priester; sophomores Trevor Corle, Chase Shirey

In the mix: Freshmen Zach Hepler, Trenton Shirey

Corle says: “We have only one senior and Larissa has played a lot of matches. I look for the team to feed off her and learn from her. She's good and she'll keep the kids calm. ... We have 10 boys: one junior, three sophomores and the rest are freshmen. I think this will be a good rebuilding year.”

Eagle staff writers Sam Tallarico, Mike Kilroy and Derek Pyda contributed to this report.